Refrigerating apparatus.



R. WHITAKER. BEFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, 1905.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909. 2 sHEBTs sHEET 1.

Attorneys.

In entor [M m 7 9 2 Witnesses )M, %wm

R. WHITAKER. REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. a, 1905.

w 2 I m 9% M A w m v/w w M W F E y y. 4 t. 2 v i ,I a. m m QWW d m Q & 1 NY Q N RN A 1 xw *w Aw v d Y, r S n. mm w w H 6 NW m 9 A n W Z? nNrrED srArEs RICHARD WHITAKER, or NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORLBY DIRECT AND MEsNE' PATENT orEreE.

ASSIGNMENTS, TO BRUNSWICK REFRIGERATING GOMFANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

1s a descnptlon. he object I have in view is the reduction of a refrigerating plant, "which wi be simple,

and thoroughly practicable, and which may be made in small sizes and used in private residences, where it'inay not receive "expert care and attention. t

Other objects are to produce a device which will be safe, which will be highly eificient and entirely automatic in operation, as well as cheap to construct and compact.

I attain these objectsby the mechanism. illustrated inthe apcompanying drawings, in which, 1 v I Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete device, the tank being shown in section, and the expansion coil being conventionally illustrated. Fig.2 is a top View thereof taken on the lines 2- 2, of Fig. 1, the exansion coil being omitted. Fig. 3 ;is a ongitudinal sectional view of the ammonia vessel. Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view of the cut oil mechanism showing it in the position with the expansion valve closed. ig. 5 is a view of the same showing it in the position with the expansion valve .open. ig. 6 is a view partly in section taken on the lines-66 of Fig. 4, the flywheel and the connecting clutch being shown in elevation. p

In all the views like parts are designated by the same reference characters. 1 In carrying out my invention I provide a compressing or gas pump 1,. a. convenient form being illustrated in my application for patent Serial No. 188,612, filed' Jan. 11,

1904. The gas pump, however, difiers from that illustrated in my said application in that the cylinder 2 is not water jacketed. The pump is secured within a tank 3, as shown in the drawings, it is bolted to the 1 bottom 4 thereof. This tank is adapted to be filled with water and will contain the gas pump, thecooling coil, and the ammonia receiving vessel. The pump is provided with a sleeve 5, through which a shaft '6 passes, thesle-evebeing screw threaded at 7'- and provided with av shoulder 8. The

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 3, 1905. Serial No. 248,246.

a pressure gage 31.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

threaded ortion passes through an openi in the wal of the tank 3, and a nut 9 is use to compress a gasket 10 placed-between the wall and the shoulder 8. This structure will constitute-a water ti ht joint. Within the tank 3 is arranged t e cooling coil 11 and the ammonia receiving vessel 12. For compactness the-cooling coil is 'preferabl coiled around the upper portion of the tan and the ammonia vessel 1s preferably placed upon the bottom 4 of the tank so that the ammonia will drain into it.

, The actuating motor, in this embodiment of the invention, an electric motor, 13, is supported upon a table 14 which iscarried by standards 15 secured to the walls of the tank 3. The motor drives the pum by meansof a belt '16 passing over a pu ey 17 on the motor shaft, and a pulley 18 upon the pump shaft .6. The pulley 18 is provided with a thickened rim :19, so that it will serve as a fly wheel and is connected to the shaft 6 by means of a band brake 20 engaging with a pulley 21 secured to the shaft 6. The said rake is engaged with the pulley by means of'a lever 22 carrying a weight 23 and secured to a rockshaft 24. This rock shaft is pro- .vided with a cam 25 which enga es with an ofiset 26- on one extremity of the and brake 20. The other extremity of the.'band is offset at 27 and engages with a pin 28.

The device thusdescribed is identical wit that disclosed in my copending a plication for patent filed Jan. 25th, 1905, erialNo. 242,594, and is a convenient means of connecting the motor with the ump in such a manner that the motor may e started from rest and will attain a considerable speed and store up energy in the fly wheel before the latter is automatically coupled to the pump, so that the latter will be started. The exact form of device described need not be em ployed, however, and if desired, the motor canbe connected directly to the pump shaft without the use of any suchmechanism.

The outlet of the coil 11 connects at 29 with the, ammonia vessel 12. An exit'pi e 30, which extends down part way into t e vessel, extends u ward above the walls of the tank 3, and may 0 provided, if desired, with The pi e extends horizontally to the expansion va ve- 32, and from there a pipe 33 extends to the ex ansion coil 34. The expansion coil is place within the diaphragm 39, see Fig. 5.' Engaging this diaphragm is a pin 40, the free end of which rests upon alever 41. The lever 41 is pivoted to a racket 42 carried by the chamber 38. The other end of the lever 41 is con nected by a link 43 to a lever 44 which con-- trols the expansion valve 32. The construction is such that upon the ressure exceeding a certain amount wit in the chamber 38, the diaphragm will be flexed,

the free end of the lever 41 elevated, and the expansion valve 32 closed. Upon the pressure dropping below a certain oint, the lever 41 will dro and 0 en the va ve. This movement will be acce erated by means of the weight '45 carried upon the lever 41.

From the union 36 a pipe 46 extends to the pump 2 and from the latter the pipe 47 for containing the compressed gas passes into a valve 48, connected to the coil 11; A ie 46 connects the condensing chamber ot the pump with the union 36, so that gas escaping y t e piston of the um will escape from the condensing cham er 1nto the coupling. and will be passed through the pump again. This completes the circulating system.

In operation, the tank 3 is to be nearly filled with water, preferably to about the level shown in Fig. 1. This water-will serve as a cooling medium for the pum the coil and the ammonia vessel 12 an will also serve as a means for absorbin any leakage within that part of the system slow the surface of the water. In order to control the level of the water the following mechanism is employed: An inlet pipe 49 is provided with a valve closure 50, the latter being controlled by a lever and float 51, pivoted adjacent to the exit of the ipe 492 This lever and float are so adjustef that upon the level of the water exceeding a certain amount, the supply of waterwill be cut off. I do not illustrate the connections ofthe valve in detail as any well known device may be employed for this purpose. An over flow pipe 52 is laced below the level of the inlet pipe 49, t e distance separating the two'being sufficient to cause a read and positive operation of the valve 50. T 'e pipe 52 is as large as the pipe 49 or it may be somewhat larger. Connected to the pi e 52 is a smaller pipe 53, entering the tank as ort distance below the latter pipe. This pipe 53 is of very much smaller size than the pipe 52 and its purpose will be as presently explained. In connection with this apparatus is employed a second float 54 carried upon an arm 55. This arm is connected to a lever 56, which is supported u on a fixed pivot 57. The other en of the ever 56 is arranged to en age with the lever 41 or as shown in the awings with the weight 45.

movement is limited by a The float and levers are arranged so that upon the level of the water within the tank 3 being lowered the descent of the float will cause a corres onding elevation of the lever 41, and with it a closure of the expansion valve 32. The purpose of the pipe 53 and the float 54 and its connections is to provide a means for cutting off the supply of ammonia to the pump if for any reason the supply of water from the pipe 49 should cease or the valve 50 should become choked. In that event the overflow will discharge through the pipe 52 until the latter is above the level of the water, then it will flow solely through the smaller pipe 53. The size of the latter and its distance below the pipe 52 are so proportioned and arranged that the level of the water will be lowered sufliciently to close the expansion valve by means of the float 54 before the water within the tank 3 has reached such 'a temperature that it will be unsuitable or unsafe. Should the supply of water in the pipe 49 cease for only a short time, the apparatus would not be stopped.

In connection with the device already described I provide a means for closing the expansion valve, when the mechanism is at rest. This device is illustrated in detail in Figs. 4 to 6. Upon the extension 5 of the pump 1 outside of the tank is mounted a disk or drum 58 preferably having a smooth pcriphery 59. This disk is arranged to turn freely upon the extension 5, but its extent of 7 I in 60, which passes through a slot 61 on tie hub of the isk. Connected to the disk is a rod 61 which passes through an o ening 62 in the free'end of the lever 41. stop 63 is carried by the rod 61 and is adapted to engage with the under side of the lever, and elevate it upon the rod being elevated. This stop may be secured in place by a screw 64 so as to be adjustable. Upon the lever 22 is carried a brake shoe 65, which may be caused to engage with the periphery of the disk 59 by means of a spring 66. The disk 58 u on being oscillated upon the extension 5 to -t e extent of the limit of movement afforded by theslotfil: and pin will serve to entirely close the expansion valve when the rod 61 is elevate d or to permit it to be entirely opened whenjit is depressed. The opening 62 is. sufficiently large to allow the lever 41 to be elevated or de ressed entirely inde endent of the rod 61 a w en the latter is in t e lowermost position. U on it bein elevated however, as shown in *ig. 4, it wil elevate the lever 41 and prevent the latter from being lowered. The disk 58 is oscillated upon the support 5 in one direction by means of the brake shoe 65 which is carried by and rotates with the fly wheel 18. Upon the latter being rotated as shown in the direction. indicated by the arrows in Fi s. 4 and 5, the brake shoe will turn upon the isk, and

tend to rotate it to the left, so as to cause the end of the slot 61 to engage with the pin 60 and elevate the rod 61 tothe full extent of.

descend, owing to the weight of the lever 41,

and the weight 45, thus revolving the disk 58" backwards when the parts will assume the position shown in Fig. 5 with the valve 32 open and the disk will remain in this osition until the fly wheel 18 ceases to revo veat a sufiiciently high rate of speed to cause the weight 65 to be thrown outward. When this situation occurs the spring 66 will draw in the brake shoe against the drum 58 and clamping the two together will rotate the disk 1n the direction of the rotation of the wheel-again lifting the rod 61 and closing the valve. It is to be understood that While the valve parts, which comprise the lever 41, the weight 45 and the rod 61 are sufliciently heavy to cause the disk to rotatewhen the brake shoe is disengaged from it, they are not suflicientl hea to cause the pulley or cause the puiley an motor torotate backward when t e brake shoe is in engagement with the disk, therefore when the motor is at rest the valve lever will not drop.

In order to lubricate the shaft 6 and prevent the lubricant from flying outward, becoming lost and spatterin upon the belt 16,

the device illustrated in ig. .6 is employed.

The disk 58 is-provided with an annular-lip 67 which surrounds the hub 68, of the fly wheel 18. This will produce an annular cu sha ed cavity, 69, surrounding the'hub an wit in which the oil will be collected. Ant

lubricant owing outward to'lu ricate the outward part of the shaft and part inward to lubricate the moving mechanism I of the amp. a v

In order to draw oif the ammonia from the vessel 12, a pipe 72 is provided, see'Figs. 1, 2 and 3. .This pipe. passes down almost .to the bottom of the vessel, and extends above the surface'of the water to the point 73 and its outlet 74- is arranged below the level of the water. A valve 75 is rovided in the pipe above the water level? By opening this valve the pressure of the ammonia within the On any further movevessel 12 will cause it to pass up throu the pipe 72 and passing through the out et 74 e ow the water will mix with the latter and will not escape into the atmosphere. A draw off pipe 76 .anda cook 77 permits the emptying of the tank 3 for the inspection or repair of the various machinery therein contamed.

,The operation of the entire apparatus is as follows: The inlet pipe 49 will supply water to the tank 3 so that the latter will be filled to the determined level. The motor being started will, after it attains a sufficient speed to overcome the inertia of the pump, start.

the latter. In the meantime the liquid ammonia will have entered the pipe 30 and as soon as the expansion valve is opened will expand in the expansion coil 34. The extent of opening of the expansion valve will 'bB-GOIItI'Olled by the amountof back pressure within the coil through the agency of the diaphragm 39 and lever 41 andlink 42.

From the coupling 36 the expanded am-,

monia gas is passed through the pipe 46 into the pump and will be there compressed, the compressed gas passing through the pipe 47 through'the coil 11 where it will be cooled and into the ammonia vessel 12. By having the vessel 12 within the tank 3 the liquid ammonia will be kept cool and the eliiciency of the device greatly increased. Should for any reason the supply of water to the tank 3 be stopped the expansion valve will be closed before the temperature of the Water Within the tank is increased to an alarming extent, the expansion valve being closed, no more gas will enter the expansion coil and consequently the pump will soon be working against a vacuum. When the motor 13 is stopped the expansion valve-will be closed by means of the cut oif mechanism, so that there will be no leakage in the system at this point,

By placing the pump, coil'and ammonia vessel Within the tank and mounting the motor over it, a device which is extremely compact and which will occupy a minimum of floor space is provided. This is articularly advantageous in small isolate plants for private residences. The pump being placed within the water tank is kept entirely cool and requires no water jacket and conse-' uently is made much more simple and c caper than where such jacket is used.

Should any of the parts leak or become broken there will be no danger from the escape of ammonia as the latter will be absorbed by the water. Furthermore by mounting the pump within the tank no pipes for circulation of water through the pump will be required, and consequently there will be no dlfliculty with leaky joints between the pipes and pump, the latter vibrating to some extent while in use, and thereby causing difli'culty with the joints.

The device also has the great advantage, as i the water tank serves as an insulating means for the ammonia. In the event of fire there will be no danger of explosion as the ammonia within the water tank will not be raised to a dangerously high temperature.

For the'purpose of removing the condensing coil and ammonia vessel, I provide the following mechanism: The pi e is provided at a point above the leve of the water in the tank with a valve 30. This valve is provided with a union 30 by means of which the two parts of the pipe may be separated. The valve 48 is connected to I with a valve 33* is secured to the pipe 33.

This valve is first opened. and the iquid pimrlponia introduced into the pipe 33 from. a

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire tovsecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination with a tank, of a pump within the tank, a supply pipe for the tank, an overflow pi e, an expansion coil, a valve therefor, and

a oat and connection between the float and expansion valve forclosing the latter by the lowering of the level of the water within the tank, said pump beinga gas or compression puilnp and connected with said expansion cor 2. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination with a tank, of a pump therein,

3. In a refrigerating a paratus, the combination with a tank, 0 a pump therein, means for admittingwater to the tank, an overflow pipe, a smaller overflow pipe below the. first overflow pipe, an ex ansion coil, a valve therefor, and a float or closing the valve as the level of the Water drops from the one overflow pipe to the other, said pump being a gas or compression pump and connected with said expansion coil.

4. The combination with a pump, of means for actuating the pump, an expansion coil and a valve giving communication thereto, and means controlled by the pump actuating mechanism for closing the expansion valve when the actuating mechanism is at rest or rotates below a predetermined speed, said pump being a gas or compression pump and connected with said exp. nsion coil.

5. The combination with agps or compression pump and an expansion oil connected therewith, of a wheel upon the shaft of the pum means for rotating the wheel, a weig t rotating with the wheel, a brake shoe controlled by the weight, a disk, a spring for engaging the shoe with the disk, and connections between the disk and the expansion valve for closing the latter when the wheel is at rest or is rotating with insufficient speed to disengage the shoe from the disk.

6. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination with a gas or compression ump, an expansion coil connected therewiti and an expansion valve for said coil, of a pullcyfor moving the pump, a disk, means for connecting thepulley and disk, means for limiting the rotary movement of the disk, a rod moved by the disk, and connections between the rod and the expansion valve for closing the latter by the rotation of the disk.

7. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination with a gas or compression ump, an expansion coil connected therewitfl and an expansion valve for said coil, of means for automaticall opening and closing the valve, such means eing controlled by the pressure within the system, means for rotating the pump, and means controlled by the pump rotating means for independently controlling the-expansion valve.

8. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination with a tank normall containing water at a predetermined leve of a gas or compression pump within the tank, an expansion coil connected with said pump, a valve for said coil, and means adapted upon the lowering of the level of the water in the tank to close said valve, said 'ump being submerged within the water in t e tank.

This specification signed and witnessed this second day of Man, 1905.

RICHARD WHITAKER.

Witnesses:

LEONARD H. DYER, JO N S. Lo'rson. 

